The Plain Mans Senses Exercised to Discern Good and Evil, Title page – Preface
The Plain mans Senses EXERCISED TO Discern both GOOD and EVIL: OR, A Discovery of the Errors, Heresies, and Blasphemies of these Times, and the Toleration of them, as they are collected and testified against by the Ministers of LONDON, In their Testimony to the Truth of JESUS CHRIST.
By WILLIAM LYFORD, B. D. and late Minister of the Gospel at Sherbourn in the West of England.
2 COR. 11.13, 14, 15. For such are deceitfull workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ, &c.
2 TIM. 1.8. Be not ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord, nor of me, &c.
GAL. 1.8. Though we, or an Angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have preached, let him be accursed.
LONDON, Printed for Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane. 1655.
The Preface to the Christian Reader, both Ministers and People.
OF you that are Ministers I humbly crave three things:
1. Your Pardon for this my audacious undertaking; it is a work best befitting the Protestors themselves, or some other able Divine, who is a man of greater parts and learning, better versed in Controversies new and old, than I am, or pretend to be. In the Church there be two ranks of Teachers; some whose work it is dolare lapides; others, ipsos artifices; our people are like rough stones digged out of the Quarre; By the hammer of Gods Word, many of them, are by his Blessing upon our Labours, made polished stones for Gods Temple: But we our selves need polishing by the skill and learning of the others; for they digg deep to search out hidden Knowledge, they hunt and catch the Venison, which we so readily dresse, and dish out to our Hearers; Let them have the honour of their Gifts and Labours. It is the work of an Age to breed a sound learned man, and none but dunghill-spirits will undervalue such precious Jewels.
Secondly, If any take himself causelesly charged with Error, I beseech him not to impute that unto me; for I neither choose my Adversary, nor my Argument, but take up both as drawn up by the testimony of faithfull Ministers: And although it be no faire dealing to take up an ill report of another, and it is never my manner to take upon trust what I believe, or propose to others to be believed; yet thus far I hope I may be excused, because every one's Error, which I tax by name, or by some characterizing circumstance, I do it upon my owne certain knowledge, that it is their opinion by the testimony of their own writings: As for the rest, I name none, I asperse none, I charge none; onelyonly this I do, known vulgar Errors I endeavour to confute; And this I may do, without asking who is the Father, and without wronging the unknown Author of them.
Thirdly, Seeing it hath pleased God, when I came to the end of the 11. Chapter, to put a period to my Studies by the great encrease of my Disease upon me, and shortly after to my Life it self; my humble request unto some of my Brethren of the Clergy, is, that if it be not too mean a condescention, they will be pleased to go on where I have left, and so to finish the work, unlesse they judge it fitter to draw all anew with their own more learned pensill. The Work is likely to be profitable to the People of this Nation, especially in such a time as this.
You that are the People, I crave leave, first, to admonish, secondly, to exhort.
First,Iude v. 19. 2 Iohn v. 9, 10. Rom. 16.17. Let no man beguile you with faire words, under the gilded notion of Saints: Accept no mans face against the least truth of Jesus. If any come unto you in great humilty, and shews of love, in sheeps cloathing, and bring new and strange Doctrines; if he go about to cause Divisions; if he be one that forsakes Ordinances, vilifies Ministers, and the old way of holy walking with God; you are bound in conscience not to receive him into your houses, but to avoid him; you sin if you do not.
Against such corruptours of pure Doctrine, Ignatius Martyr in his Epistle ad Trallianos, p. 68. doth most gravely warn all Christians in these words.
Sunt quidam vaniloqui, & mentis seductores, non Christiani, sed Christum mercantes, & cauponantes verbum Evangelii, qui venenum Erroris commiscentes dulci blandimento, sicut oenomeli, ut qui biberit illius potus gustabilem sensum, dulcedine captus, inobservantèr morti addicatur.
There are certain vain Talkers and Seducers, not Christians, but such as make Merchand…ze of Christ and his Gospel, who mingle the poyson of their Errours with sweet and pleasing words, as Vintners that mingle Honey with their Wine, so that he which drinketh of that pleasant Cup, being delighted with the Taste, is unawares mortally poysoned. Thus that holy Martyr who lived in St. Iohn's time.
It is an unworthy temporizing, and a soul destroying flattering speech of one that saith, Heresie in a good man is no sin, and Heresie, though the matter be never so grosse, if it be not affected, if there be no design of the will in it, is no sin. But you Beloved, remember what the Scripture saith of Heresie,2 Pet. 2.1. There shall be false teachers among you, which shall privily bring in damnable Heresies; Heresies be damnable, though privily and unawares brought in: Another Apostle tells you,2 Thes. 2.11, 12. that it is a fearfull judgement to believe a lie; and Heresie is a lie; And if it be so damnable, not to believe necessary Truths, what is it to hold that which is most opposite to Truth, grosse Heresies? Lastly, observe what a third Apostle saith, 2 Ep. Iohn v. 9, 10. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son. The testimony of three Apostles I hope will stablish you hearts against the glossing and power of all Seducers, and not suffer you to think or speak favourably of the least Corruptions of Christs blessed Gospel; it is matter of jealousie to him. Read 2 Cor. 11.2, 3.
Secondly, I exhort, that you carefully observe the method and scope of this Book, which is to lay before you certain distinctions upon the most materiall, yet perverted points of Religion in these daies, that so the Chaff being sorted from the Wheat, you may see in which side of the distinction the Truth lies, and in which the Fallacie. All things are set down as perspicuously as the nature of the matter will permit; yet some things you must read over twice or thrice, else you will not discern of things that differ. It is chiefly intended for your Edification and Confirmation. The God of Truth guide you into all saving Truths. Amen.
The End of William Lyford, a Sinner, justified in the Blood of Christ, and sanctified by his Word and Spirit, who resteth in hope of Eternall life, which God, that cannot lie, hath promised before the world began, Tit. 1.2.